Sports ramblings…with a Yankees bias!

It’s Just Another Manic Monday…

Robert Frost once said he could sum up everything he has learned about life in three words.“It goes on”…

It was one of those days for the great Mariano Rivera and the Yankees on Sunday.The Yankees had controlled the majority of the game after a Randy Winn triple in the bottom of the 2nd inning had given them an early 2-1 lead.

Sergio Mitre did everything asked of him as he went 5 innings and only gave up 4 hits and 1 run.David Robertson, who has been struggling, came on in relief of Mitre and was effective for two innings.

Antonelli/New York Daily News

So, the Yankees had the perfect formula for victory (Chamberlain + Rivera), right?Wrong.Joba allowed the first batter to reach base during the top of the 8th inning when Denard Span singled.Following a fielder’s choice which left Orlando Hudson at first, Joe Mauer walked.Joba struck out the next batter (Justin Morneau), and it looked as though he might escape the inning without any further damage.Unfortunately, an infield single by Michael Cuddyer loaded the bases and ended Joba’s afternoon.Manager Joe Girardi called on Mariano Rivera for a four-out save.Mo quickly fell behind the first batter he faced (Jim Thome) and eventually walked him to bring in a run (closing the Yankees lead to 3-2).Mo was unable to shut the door as the next hitter, Jason Kubel, smashed a grand slam to right to give the Twins the lead, 6-3.

Antonelli/New York Daily News

William Perlman/The Star Ledger

The Yankees tried to rally in the bottom of the 9th and had the first two men on base.But Twins closer Jon Rauch struck out Derek Jeter, Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira to end the game.

This was a very disappointing loss.The Yankees have had great success against the Twins at Yankee Stadium and had won the first two games of this series.A win today would have put a psychological knife into the Twins or the very least would have given them doubts about their ability to win at the Stadium in October.For the Twins, it was a huge win and it lifted the monkey off their backs.Prior to the game, former Twins great Bert Blyleven labeled it as a “must win”

Star Tribune

So, the weekend ends on a down note for the Yankees as they await the arrival of their fiercest rival, the Boston Red Sox, for a two-game series in the Bronx starting on Monday.

Of course, Yankees-Red Sox can only mean one thing.It’s time for another wager between me and my friend Julia of Julia’s Rants.For the latest wager, the loser must write a blog about the opposing team’s first World Series victory.If the teams split the series, the winner will be the team with the highest run total.The Red Sox did lose today to Johnny Damon and the Detroit Tigers so neither the Yanks or Sox carry any momentum into the latest series.

The Yankees received some bad news when it was announced that DH Nick Johnson may need wrist surgery.They’ll first try a cortisone shot, but if it doesn’t work, surgery will be the next option which would most likely shelf Johnson until August.This is exactly what Yankee fans had feared when Johnson signed with the Yanks during the off-season as Johnny Damon’s replacement.GM Brian Cashman says that Johnson’s injury potential was taken into consideration, however, it doesn’t appear that there is a solid Plan B in place.I like the lineup with Posada at DH and Francisco Cervelli at catcher, however, that may or may not be a good long term solution.I’d prefer more of a sure thing (trade for Johnny Damon?), but unfortunately, the trade market will not be open until July (or June at the earliest).

Brandon Wade/AP

It was a particularly tough sports day for me today as the San Jose Sharks lost 2-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the NHL Western Conference Finals.I am sure that if I need to hear some positive sports news, Julia will be more than happy to tell me all about the Boston Celtics’ Game 1 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals…L

San Jose Mercury News

The day did have a great start for me before the games began.I participated in the 99th Annual Bay to Breakers 12K Run in San Francisco.The run started near the Bay by Embarcadero and headed west (up the Hayes Street Hill and through Golden Gate Park) to the Pacific Ocean.

San Francisco Chronicle

In San Francisco, you have to be prepared to see just about anything…and I did!Many runners (and walkers) chose to wear costumes while some opted for nothing at all.I took the more conservative and traditional route myself.I do not know the total headcount but the run was very slow at the beginning and going up the Hayes Street Hill due to the sheer volume of people.

San Francisco Chronicle

Personally.I accomplished my modest goal of running the race inside of an hour.It was a fun and very enjoyable day…well, at least until the 8th inning at Yankee Stadium!

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